firehose

Off the shoulder of Orion

While America keeps trying to devise a more standard standardized test system, the Osterskov Efterskole in Hobro, Denmark, is busy using live-action role-playing to teach its students while they're having fun. I know, it sounds insane, but watch this documentary and tell me you don't wish you'd gone there for school

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Courtney shared this story from Captain Awkward.

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Robin Marantz Henig’s piece on loneliness and the science of how loneliness affects the brain is sad and interesting and relevant to our interests, I think:

What is different about lonely people is how they interpret their interactions with friends and acquaintances. In the Ohio State study, lonely people tended to feel put upon and misunderstood. They were, the researchers wrote, “more likely to attribute problems in social relationships to others,” and to see themselves “as victims who are already giving as much as they can to their relationships.”

In other words, people grow lonely because of the gloomy stories they tell themselves. And, in a cruel twist, the loneliness itself can further distort their thinking, making them misread other people’s good intentions, which in turn causes them to withdraw to protect themselves from further rejection — and causes other people to keep them at arm’s length.

According to Guy Winch, a New York psychologist and author of Emotional First Aid, lonely people can become “overly defensive and come across to others as detached, aloof, or even hostile — which only pushes them further away.” Loneliness can create its own self-defeating behavior.

I see this pattern in letters and discussions we have here. “Try meeting more people!” we say. “I’ve TRIED that and it’s not WORKING” the struggling, lonely letter writer or commenter says. “Just, um, try harder!” we say.

I have also seen the self-fulfilling “negging” behavior in action, and I do have a strategy when I meet someone at an event and I say “Hi, nice to meet you” or “Are you enjoying the event?” and they say (true story) “You’re probably just saying that” or (true story) “I’m sure it’s nice but I can never meet people at these things. Not people who want to be my friend.” To be honest, responses like that make klaxons go off in my head, and I DON’T want to be around that person very much, and I DON’T want to be guilted into being friends with a stranger. A mean stranger. But recognizing that sometimes people blurt stuff out when they are feeling really awkward, and knowing that my own semi-public role as an awkward soul makes it more likely that they will blurt that stuff to me, I’ve begun a strategy of redirecting the conversation. “Wow, well, I can’t answer that, having just met you, but…” 

• “…how did you find out about this event/know the hosts?”
• “…what would you rather be doing with your Tuesday night?”
• “…read/watch/eat anything good lately?”

Sometimes the answers are (true story) “I know the hosts because they are good people who take pity on people like me,” “Somewhere really quiet, like the morgue” and “No, but let me tell you about all the things that I’ve read that SUCK and all of the details of that suckiness” and then I do bail politely after three unsuccessful attempts, likely added to their list of “fake people who just can’t hang when things get too real,” or whatever. But sometimes I am able to draw the person out about something they are interested in that isn’t their own self-consciousness, and then they relax a bit, and then we have a pretty ok conversation. So if you hear the klaxons, but sense the person is really trying to connect, I humbly offer that as a way to get through the interaction.

I don’t know how to bypass the self-defeating patterns of a “lonely brain,” and it’s not exactly comforting to know that this is what could be happening. At least you’re not imagining it? Sadly, I also don’t know any possible solutions beyond “recognize the role that your own assumptions and fears might be playing in how you respond to interactions with other people, and see if you can’t find happier tapes to play for yourself and for others over time” (maybe with some professional help) and “just, um, keep trying to meet people, Buddy!” I can see why hearing that would be frustrating, especially when you are already making the effort and it feels like it’s going nowhere.

Do others have experience getting themselves out of this mindset? What changed/how did you change it? What other advice could we be offering lonely people who are frustrated with the usual channels for making friends?

 

 

Burger Week runs August 11-17th

I never thought Smallwares, at NE 46th and Fremont, would get into the Burger Week fray, but once they did I knew Johanna Ware would deliver a killer. I think she’s been holding back for years, because she knew once she put her signature style on a burger, she’d instantly be hounded to start a chain that features this and only this creation.

Any axis you spin the Smallwares $5 burger on—flavor, texture, intensity—it’s an A+. The charred, juicy beef patty, griddled in bacon fat, sits in a tender potato bun with crispy fried shallots, melted Swiss, fresh tomato, shredded iceberg, shiso, cilantro, and a Smallwares-esque mayonnaise-based secret sauce tuned up with Serrano chilies, chopped pickle, ginger, and seven leagues of umami.

Don’t let the height intimidate you — she’s a pro, and like the rest of her menu, the food eats beautifully and cleanly. It’s not a slippery, jaw-dislocating stack, but a tidy package that compresses in unison and delivers big, complex flavors in every bite. It’s a full-size burger, but you may want two.

Support these hard-working kitchens, and treat yourself right—don’t forget sides and drinks!

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Read all the Burger Week details here!

The Portland Mercury would like to thank our partners once again this year, world-class meat provider Nicky USA, Widmer Brothers Brewing, and Jim Beam Kentucky Fire!

Important reminder: THESE BURGERS WILL SELL OUT. Last year’s restaurants had one main issue with the event last year, and that was people getting angry and rude when they found out that they are part of a reality where restaurants that are getting slammed run out of food. We have better forecasting numbers this year, but please: go early, be kind, get a drink, and, most importantly, a $5 burger is a privilege, not a right. You know what someone who acts like a horse’s ass is? Hint: It has two enormous buttocks and large poops fall out of the middle.

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Yeah, I know. I’m in the podcast-app business! This is big news! The articles all say that Apple may finally “fix” their podcast app! And that might be true: Swell was basically Pandora for podcasts, and Apple’s podcast app has had some issues recently.

But Apple’s podcast app is still by far the most popular podcast player in the world, and it continues to be a pretty low priority for the company. The entire podcasting market is insignificant relative to the other markets that Apple competes in, and they already have clear, long-standing dominance in the podcast market. Many geeks dislike the Apple podcast app, but it’s actually pretty good and solves most people’s needs perfectly well, and Swell won’t solve the few remaining non-geek complaints about it.

Swell also wasn’t doing very well. I suspect the Pandora recommendation-based-shuffle model just doesn’t work for podcasts: they’re too long, varied, and dependent on getting to know personalities over multiple episodes. It’s nothing like hearing a new song every 3 minutes.

I think it’s much more likely that this Swell acqui-hire has nothing to do with podcasts and will never involve the Apple podcast app. It was probably to bring the staff and recommendation algorithms to strategically important areas in which Apple currently isn’t very successful but needs to be: iTunes Radio and Beats Music.

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Responding to protests from musicians and locals, organizers of the inaugural Fashion Meets Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio, have pulled R. Kelly from the Labor Day weekend lineup.

Kelly was scheduled to appear on Aug. 29, opening day of the three-day event in Columbus' Arena District. His publicist released a statement: "R. Kelly is sorry to disappoint his fans but looks forward to seeing them in the near future during one of his upcoming tours."

Soon after announcing the controversial R&B star as a headliner, complaints poured in, mostly via social media, about his tumultuous legal history, particularly his 2002 indictment on 21 counts of making child pornography. Kelly was found not guilty of those charges in 2008. Jurors said they were convinced of Kelly's role in sex tapes presented as evidence but could not be certain of the ages and identities of the female partners.

In 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times began publishing an investigative series portraying Kelly as a sexual predator who sought girls as young as 15.

Kelly performed at last year's Bonnaroo and Pitchfork festivals without much dissent, but Columbus citizens have been vocal in their disapproval.

Bands and vendors have pulled out of the festival and many residents have voiced disapproval on Twitter and Facebook. A sample of Facebook comments:

FMMF organizers, who initially defended the selection, took notice of community reaction and decided to remove Kelly. Remaining headliners include O.A.R., Michelle Williams, Paper Diamond and Destructo. Also on the bill are Future Islands, The Menzingers and Maps & Atlases. The festival also celebrates fashion and will spotlight Althea Harper, Kaolacore, Rox & Royalty, Alternative Fashion Mob, Lubna Designs, Dirty Rich Apparel and more. For details, go here.

Original Source

"There's no talent shortage. There's an opportunity shortage," he said, calling Silicon Valley "far worse" than many others such as car makers who have been pressured by unions. He said tech behemoths have largely escaped scrutiny by a public dazzled with their cutting-edge gadgets.

Ironically, Joe Biden had argued as a U.S. senator in 2006, when Iraq was in the throes of sectarian violence, that the country be divided into three autonomous regions with a weak central government . His idea never gained traction, and the administration in which he serves as vice president argues the opposite view.

 
Okay, this is an excellent way to end the workweek: A tribute to Paul’s Boutique by DJ Cheeba, DJ Moneyshot and DJ Food.

3 years in the making, 3 DJs working with over 150 tracks to recreate one of the seminal sampling albums of all time, at last Cheeba, Moneyshot and I can reveal ‘Caught In The Middle Of A 3-Way Mix’. Our tribute to the classic Beastie Boys album ‘Paul’s Boutique’ remixed and re-imagined from all the original samples plus a cappellas, period interviews and the Beasties’ own audio commentary from the reissued release.

 

 
DJ Cheeba section:

To All The Girls:
Mike D – Pauls Boutique Audio Commentary (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip
Idris Mohammed – Loran’s Dance – Kudu
Beastie Boys – Triple Trouble (a cappella) – Capitol Records
Beastie Boys – Paul Revere – (DIY a cappella)
Fatboy Slim – The Weekend Starts Here – Skint Records
Beastie Boys – 3 MCs and 1 DJ (a cappella) – Capitol Records
LL Cool J – Rock The Bells – Def Jam Recordings
Beastie Boys – Ch Ch Ch Check It Out (a cappella) – Capitol Records
Beastie Boys – Shake Your Rump (a cappella) – Capitol Records
David Berman – Pauls Boutique Release Party (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip

Shake Your Rump:
Alphonze Mouzon – Funky Snakefoot – Blue Note
Beastie Boys – Shake Your Rump (a cappella) – Capitol Records
Rose Royce – 6 O’Clock DJ (Let’s Rock) – MCA Records
Rose Royce – Born To Love You – MCA Records
John King – The History of The Dust Brothers (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip
Mike D – Pauls Boutique Release Party (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip
Diana Ross & The Supremes – No Matter What Sign You Are – Tamla Motown
The Sugar Hill Gang – 8th Wonder – Sugar Hill Records
Rose Royce – Daddy Rich – MCA Records
Alan Moorhouse – Soul Skimmer – KPM Music
Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown – Unity Part 2 (a cappella) – Polydor
Funky 4+1 – That’s The Joint – Sugar Hill Records
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved – Island Records
Rose Royce – Yo Yo – MCA Records
Mike D – Pauls Boutique Release Party (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip
Black Oak Arkansas – Hot and Nasty – ATCO Records
Paul Humphrey – Super Mellow – Inner City Records
Harvey Scales – Dancing Room Only – Casablanca Records
Ronnie Laws – Tell me Something Good – Blue Note

Johnny Ryall:
Kurtis Blow – AJ Skratch – Mercury
Paul McCartney – Momma Miss America – Apple Records
Beastie Boys – Johnny Ryall (a cappella) – Capitol Records
Jean Knight – Mr Big Stuff – Stax
Chris Stein – Military Breakbeat – 360 Records
Pink Floyd – One Of These Days – Harvest
Donny Hathaway – Magnificent Sanctuary Band – ATCO Records
MCA – Pauls Boutique Audio Commentary (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip
David Bromberg – Sharon – Columbia
LL Cool J – Discusses the Beastie Boys (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip
Mike D – Pauls Boutique Release Party (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip

Egg Man:
Lightnin’ Rod – Sport – United Artists Records
WYFF News – Which Came First…? (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip
Beastie Boys – Egg Man – (DIY a cappella)
Curtis Mayfield – Superfly – Buddah Records
Tower of Power – Drop It In The Slot – Warner Bros. Records
Elvis Costello – Pump it Up – Radar Records
John Williams – The Theme From Jaws – MCA Records
Public Enemy – You’re Gonna Get Yours – Def Jam Recordings
Bernard Herrmann – Suite For Strings – Sony Classical
Mike D & MCA – Pauls Boutique Audio Commentary (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip
Sly and The Family Stone – Dance To The Music – Epic
The Commodores – I’m Ready – Tamla Motown
Public Enemy – Bring The Noise – Def Jam Recordings

High Plains Drifter:
Interview with The Eagles introduction (Dialogue) – YouTube Rip
The Eagles – Those Shoes – Asylum Records
The Fatback Band – Put Your Love (In My Tender Care) – Polydor

DJ Moneyshot Outro

DJ Moneyshot section:
DJ Moneyshot – “Can’t Stand DJ Cheeba Intro” – mp3

Sounds Of Science:
The Beatles – The End – Apple Records
Beastie Boys – Sounds of Science (DIY a cappella) – Capitol Records
James Brown – Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved – Polydor
Paul’s Boutique – Audio Commentary – Capitol Records
Beastie Boys – Sounds of Science – Capitol Records
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) – Capitol Records
BDP – My Philosophy – Jive
The Beatles – When I’m 64 – Capitol Records
Issac Hayes – Walk From Regio’s – Polydor

3 Minute Rule:
Paul’s Boutique – Audio Commentary – Capitol Records
Beastie Boys – 3 Minute Rule – Capitol Records
Fancy – Feel Good – Big Tree Records
Sly & The Family Stone – Brave And Strong – Epic
Beastie Boys – 3 Minute Rule (DIY a cappella) – Capitol Records
Sly & The Family Stone – Poet – Epic
Loggins & Messina – Your Mama Don’t Dance – CBS

Hey Ladies:
Kool & The Gang – Jungle Boogie – De-Lite Records
Disco Dave & The Force Of the Five MC’s – High Powered Rap – Mixmaster Mike and Disco Dave Records
Afrika Bambaataa – Jazzy Sensation – Tommy Boy Music
Jeanette Lady Day – Come Let Me Love You – Prelude Records
Beastie Boys – Hey Ladies (a cappella) – Capitol Records
Cameo – Shake Your Pants – Chocolate City
The Bar-Kays – Holy Ghost – Stax
Kurtis Blow – Party Time – Mercury
Zapp – Dancefloor – Warner Bros. Records
James Brown – Funky President – Polydor
The P-Funk Allstars – Pumpin’ It Up – Epic
The Commodores – Machine Gun – Motown
The Sweet – Ballroom Blitz – Capitol Records

5 Piece Chicken Dinner:
Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell – Shuckin’ The Corn – Warner Bros. Records
DJ Moneyshot – Rinse Out Jungle ish – mp3
Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun:
Tougher Than Leather dialogue sample – New Line Cinema
Ocean – Put Your Hand In The Hand – Kama Sutra
Paul’s Boutique – Audio Commentary – Capitol Records (dialogue)
Beastie Boys – Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun (a cappella) – Capitol Records
Pink Floyd – Time – Harvest
Mountain – Mississippi Queen – Stateside
Incredible Bongo Band – Last Bongo In Belgium – Pride
Beastie Boys – Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun – Capitol Records
YouTube Audio – MTV 1998 Beastie Boys Biography – MTV (dialogue)

DJ Food section:
Car Thief:
Funk Factory – Rien Ne Va Plus (ATCO Records)
Boogie Down Productions – The Bridge Is Over (Instr.) (B-Boy Records)
Trouble Funk – Drop The Bomb (Jamtu Records)
Beastie Boys – Car Thief (a cappella) (Capitol)
The Jackson 5 – I’ll Bet You (Motown)
Max Yasgur – Speech at Woodstock (dialogue)
Donovan – Hurdy Gurdy Man (Pye Records)
Led Zeppelin – Moby Dick (Atlantic)

What Comes Around:
Gene Harris – Put On Train (Blue Note)
Alice Cooper – It’s Hot Tonight (Warner Bros. Records)

Shadrach:
Sly & The Family Stone – Loose Booty (Epic)
Funky 4+1 – That’s The Joint (Sugar Hill Records)
Rose Royce – Do Your Dance (Whitfield Records)
The Riddler – Batman TV soundtrack (dialogue)
The Sugar Hill Gang – Sugar Gill Groove (Sugar Hill Records)
Trouble Funk – Say What? (D.E.T.T. Records)
Ballin’ Jack – Never Let ‘Em Say (Columbia)
The Fatback Band – King Tim III (Personality Jock) (Spring Records)
James Brown – Funky Drummer (King Records/Polydor)

Ask For Janice:
Paul’s Boutique radio ad (cassette) (dialogue)

B-Boy Bouillabaisse -
59 Christie Street:
Burundi Black – Burundi Black (Barclay)
Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced? (Polydor)
Run DMC – Here We Go (Live At The Funhouse) (Profile)
Cerrone – Rocket In The Pocket (Live) (CBS)
Malcolm McLaren & The World Famous Supreme Team – Buffalo Gals (Charisma)
Boogie Down Productions – My Philosophy (Jive) Fab 5 Freddy – Change Le Beat (Celluloid)

Stop That Train:
Southside Movement – Save The World (20th Century Records)
Beastie Boys – Stop That Train (a cappella) (Capitol)
Scotty – Draw Your Brakes (Trojan Records)

A Year And A Day:
Tower Of Power – Ebony Jam (Warner Bros. Records)
The Isley Brothers – That Lady (Epic)
Led Zeppelin – When The Levee Breaks (on 45 rpm) (Atlantic)
Disco Dave & the Force of the Five MC’s – High Powered Rap (Mixmaster Mike and Disco Dave Records)

Hello Brooklyn:
Led Zeppelin – When The Levee Breaks (on 33rpm) (Atlantic)
Beastie Boys – Hello Brooklyn (demo version)
Johnny Cash – Folsom Prison Blues (CBS/Columbia)

Dropping Names:
The Meters – Hey Pocky A Way (Reprise Records)
Stephen King’s It / Andy Griffiths show – He thrusts his fists… (dialogue)
The Sweet – Into the Night (RCA Victor)
The Crusaders – The Well’s Gone Dry (Blue Thumb / ABC Records)
Bob Marley interview with the BBC (dialogue)

Lay It On Me:
Kool & The Gang – Let The Music Take Your Mind (De-lite)
Jim James – No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn lyrics (dialogue)

Mike On The Mic:
Love Bug Starski – Starski, Live At The Disco Fever (Fever Records)

A.W.O.L.:
Chic – Good Times (Atlantic)
Beastie Boys – A.W.O.L. (Capitol)
Trouble Funk – Good To Go (4th & Broadway)
Idris Muhammed – Loran’s Dance (Kudu)
Rise – MCA tribute (dialogue)
Beastie Boys – Sureshot (a cappella) (Capitol/Grand Royal)
Rakim – Dedication (mp3) (dialogue)

Via Nerdcore

Original Source

[video]

Former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno will return to NBC this week to mentor comedians on “Last Comic Standing.”

A U.S. appeals court on Monday struck down Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, the latest in a string of court rulings to back gay marriage.

Jason Koebler (3528235) writes In the months and weeks leading up to a referendum vote that would have established a locally owned fiber network in three small Illinois cities, Comcast and SBC (now AT&T) bombarded residents and city council members with disinformation, exaggerations, and outright lies to ensure the measure failed. The series of two-sided postcards painted municipal broadband as a foolhardy endeavor unfit for adults, responsible people, and perhaps as not something a smart woman would do. Municipal fiber was a gamble, a high-wire act, a game, something as "SCARY" as a ghost. Why build a municipal fiber network, one asked, when "internet service [is] already offered by two respectable private businesses?" In the corner, in tiny print, each postcard said "paid for by SBC" or "paid for by Comcast." The postcards are pretty absurd and worth a look.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

https://twitter.com/declanf/status/492119640407937024/photo/1

Original Source

http://instagram.com/p/q4xAArxl6R/?modal=true

Original Source

Read 3 remaining paragraphs | Comments

mostlygoesastray:

8thgradeforever:

becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys:

opinionatedfellow:

socialismartnature:

Breaking via ABC News: UN Human Rights Council votes to open inquiry into alleged war crimes in Gaza; U.S. is the ONLY “no” vote.

That’s because the U.S. is a direct accomplice to every war crime that Israel commits.

Fuck you EU you fucking COWARDS.

At first I was genuinely astonished that Britain only abstained rather than voting an outright no, but actually, after a minute or so of thought, I don’t have a single ounce of surprise. Not with this fucking government. That is 100% how they operate in foreign policy.

Oh USA. We done fucked up again :(

that is some ~interesting~ colonized vs colonizer breakdown in the yes vs abstain votes.

MONROVIA, Liberia — One of Liberia's most high-profile doctors has died of Ebola, a government official said Sunday, highlighting the risks that health workers face in trying to combat the deadly disease.

Dr. Samuel Brisbane is the first Liberian doctor to die in an outbreak the World Health Organization said has killed 129 people in the West African nation. A Ugandan doctor working in the country died earlier this month.

The WHO said the outbreak, the largest ever recorded, has also killed 319 people in Guinea and 224 in Sierra Leone.

Brisbane, who once served as a medical adviser to former Liberian President Charles Taylor, was working as a consultant with the internal medicine unit at the country's largest hospital, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center in Monrovia. Read more...

More about Liberia, Ebola, and Ebola Outbreak

dcwomenkickingass:

Kimmel on “If Thor is a Woman Why Isn’t Wonder Woman a Man?”

The title of Thor is now going to be held by a woman in Marvel Comics. That, of course, brings up the serious issue of what the world of male superheroes will do with one of theirs gone (and Thor isn’t really “gone” he’s probably just going to have a different name). The reaction to the Thor is a woman now news was treated just as you’d expect in certain parts of the internet. And one of the questions was "Well, then why can’t Wonder Woman be a man?" Which is apparently the underlying reason for this sketch on Jimmy Kimmel in which the humor seems to be “lol dude dressed as a woman but still looks like a dude.” 

On the upside? This is the first live action appearance of Wonder Woman on a big three network TV in 35 years! 

This is the first live action appearance of Wonder Woman on a big three network TV in 35 years

I have talked to (US Vice President Joe) Biden. He calls me and I call him.

iguanamouth:

youre gonna look so goddamn cool

Moss says, "For my own sake (to keep my own story going, duh, this is the biz), I said, 'Oh Hi @ImShmacked (knew nothing about who they were) I wrote a story about you last week,' and linked to my piece. In return, Toufanian threatened to anally rape her and suggested starting a petition to get her fired. Seriously.

coldlikedeath:

greekgodsforsocialjustice:

Don’t like a blog’s opinions on your dash? Don’t send them hate:

Are you tired of seeing a specific Tumblr user reblogging and commenting on your posts?

Are you being bombarded by anonymous hate?

Too much internet for one day?

Tumblr, y’all need to do this a lot.

thatsonofamitch:

hitlervevo:

i wanna know the story behind this